Snowblower hydraulic chute rotation assembly

Abstract

The rotation assembly is comprised of a frame structure having a top surface. A longitudinal slot is formed along the top surface extending therethrough. A first pulley and second pulley are rotatably mounted to the top surface of the frame such that the slot is generally therebetween. A hydraulic cylinder is fixably mounted to the frame and has a pin extending through the cylinder arm of the hydraulic cylinder and the slot. Rotatably mounted on the pin atop the frame surface is a third pulley, such that activation of the cylinder arm causes the third pulley to travel along a path defined by the slot. The frame is fixably mounted to the rear of the snowblower housing. A first and second cable is fixably attached at one end to the side of the snowblower chute. The cables are looped around the pulleys in such a manner that activation of the cylinder causes the relative length of the cables with respect to the pulleys to vary, resulting in the rotation of the snowblower chute.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination with a snowblower having a housing open along one side to receive snow and means for impelling said snow from said housing and a chute rotatably mounted to said housing for directing said impelled snow, a hydraulic chute rotation assembly comprising: a frame having a top surface containing a slot, a first and second pulley rotatably mounted to said top surface of said frame in fixed location having a longitudinally extending slot located generally between said pulleys, a hydraulic cylinder fixably mounted to said frame, said cylinder having a displacable cylinder arm, a third pulley rotatably mounted to said cylinder arm and located generally between said first and second pulleys above said slot, said third pulley being mounted to said cylinder arm such that motion of said cylinder arm causes said third pulley to travel in a path defined by said slot, and said frame being fixably mounted to said housing, cable means for communicating said chute and said hydraulic cylinder including a cable communicating with said pulleys such that displacement of said third pulley by said hydraulic cylinder alters the relative lengths of said cable relative to said pulleys resulting in rotation of said chute. 
     
     
       2. A combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said cable means comprises a cable fixably mounted at one end to one side of said chute extending therefrom to and looped around said first pulley and therefrom to and looped around said third pulley, and therefrom back to and looped around said first pulley and therefrom to and looped around said second pulley and therefrom to and looped around said third pulley and therefrom to and looped around said second pulley and therefrom to another side of said chute thereupon fixably mounted, whereby displacement of said third pulley affects the relative lengths of said cable with respect to said pulleys to cause said chute to rotate. 
     
     
       3. In combination with a snowblower having a housing open along one side to receive snow and means for impelling said snow from said housing and a chute rotatably mounted on said housing for directing said impelled snow, a hydraulic chute rotation assembly comprising: a frame fixably mounted to said housing, a hydraulic cylinder fixably mounted to said frame said hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder arm, a first and second pulley, a first brace fixably mounted to said cylinder arm, said first and second pulleys being rotatably mounted to said first brace in spaced apart alignment, a second brace fixably mounted to said frame and slidable restraining said first brace, a third pulley rotatably mounted to said second brace located generally betwen said first and second pulleys, cable means for communicating said chute to said pulleys including a cable communicating with said pulleys such that displacement of said second and third pulleys by said hydraulic cylinder alters the relative lengths of said cable with respect to said pulleys resulting in rotation of said chute. 
     
     
       4. A combination as recited in claim 3 wherein cable means comprises a first cable fixably mounted at one end to said first brace at a point opposite said first pulley journeying therefrom to said second pulley and around said second pulley back to and looped around said first pulley and fixably mounted to said chute at the other end, a second cable fixably mounted at one end to said first brace at a point adjacent to said third pulley journeying therefrom and looped around said first pulley and back to said third pulley extending therefrom and fixably mounted to another side of said chute. 
     
     
       5. A combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said second brace includes guide means for directing the travel of said first brace.